Q&A – Part-Time Employee Vote
As you know, OPSEU is seeking to represent part-time support and student employees and employees
working in a project of a non-recurring kind at Ontario’s 24 colleges.
As a part-time support staff employee, you have the right to vote on whether you agree or disagree with
OPSEU representing you.
There will be a vote to ask whether you agree or disagree with OPSEU representing you.
The Georgian vote dates and locations are:
Date
Campus
Address
Times
Location
Monday,
June 20
Barrie Campus
One Georgian Drive
Barrie ON
9 a.m. to noon
2 to 5 p.m.
Lander Lounge
C257
Tuesday,
June 21
Bracebridge
111 Wellington Street
Bracebridge ON
9:30 to 10 a.m.
Room 109
Tuesday,
June 21
Orillia
825 Memorial Avenue
Orillia ON
11:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m.
Room A101
Wednesday,
June 22
Orangeville
22 Centennial Road
Orangeville ON
9 to 10 a.m.
Room 202
Wednesday,
June 22
Owen Sound
1450 Eighth St E
Owen Sound ON
1 to 1:30 p.m.
Room A147
Wednesday,
June 22
John Di Poce South
Georgian Bay
499 Raglan Street
Collingwood ON
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Room 121
Monday,
June 27
Midland
649 Prospect Blvd
Midland ON
10 to 11 a.m.
Room 118
Tuesday,
June 28
Kempenfelt
Conference Centre
3722 Fairway Road
Innisfil, ON
9 to 10 a.m.
Seminar C /
Main
VOTE
1. What is this vote about?
OPSEU is seeking to form a union and represent part-time employees on college campuses across
Ontario.
One Georgian Drive, Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 | T: 705.728.1968| GeorgianCollege.ca
2. What exactly will I be voting on?
The question on the ballot will ask "In your employment relations with your employer do you wish to be
represented by the union?" Indicate YES if you want to be represented by OPSEU. Indicate NO if you
don't want to be represented by OPSEU.
3. Why is it important?
The vote is very important because it will determine if OPSEU represents all of these part-time
employees or not. If OPSEU wins the vote, going forward OPSEU will bargain for the wages and working
conditions of all of these part-time employees, including students working part-time hours.
4. Who can vote?
Students and Support Staff who work part-time on campuses at every college are included in the
application and are eligible to vote.
5. Is there a limitation on who can vote?
College part-time employees and students who are working now or who worked during the 2015/2016
academic year are eligible to vote.
6. I’m not sure if I’m eligible to vote, how do I find out if I can vote?
Ask your manager. All managers will able to check with the college human resource department on your
eligibility to vote.
7. When will there be a vote?
Date
Campus
Address
Times
Location
Monday,
June 20
Barrie Campus
One Georgian Drive
Barrie ON
9 a.m. to noon
2 to 5 p.m.
Lander Lounge
C257
Tuesday,
June 21
Bracebridge
111 Wellington Street
Bracebridge ON
9:30 to 10 a.m.
Room 109
Tuesday,
June 21
Orillia
825 Memorial Avenue
Orillia ON
11:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m.
Room A101
Wednesday,
June 22
Orangeville
22 Centennial Road
Orangeville ON
9 to 10 a.m.
Room 202
Wednesday,
June 22
Owen Sound
1450 Eighth St E
Owen Sound ON
1 to 1:30 p.m.
Room A147
Wednesday,
June 22
John Di Poce South
Georgian Bay
499 Raglan Street
Collingwood ON
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Room 121
Monday,
June 27
Midland
649 Prospect Blvd
Midland ON
10 to 11 a.m.
Room 118
Tuesday,
June 28
Kempenfelt
Conference Centre
3722 Fairway Road
Innisfil, ON
9 to 10 a.m.
Seminar C /
Main
One Georgian Drive, Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 | T: 705.728.1968| GeorgianCollege.ca
8. What happens if the time for the vote happens when I am working? Can I get time off to vote?
You will certainly be given time off to vote if necessary. Please talk to your manager to make
arrangements.
9. What happens if I am not scheduled to work that day? Will I be able to recover some of the costs for
travel to come to campus and vote?
All eligible voters who are not scheduled to work on the day the vote is held at their campus location will
be paid 2 hours pay if they attend on any college campus and exercise their right to vote. Reasonable
travel expenses, such as bus fare or parking costs, will be reimbursed with receipts.
10. Will my manager or the union know how I voted?
No. The ballot is secret and no one will know how you vote.
11. I didn’t sign a union membership card – does that mean I can’t vote?
No. Your eligibility is determined by your employment status with the college.
12. Do I have to vote for the union if I signed a union membership card?
No. Even if you signed a membership card it does not mean you have to vote for the union. It is always
your choice.
13. Can I vote on-line or by phone?
No. The only way to vote will be at polling stations set up on college campuses during posted voting
times.
14. How many votes does the union have to get to win?
The vote will be decided by a majority of those who show up and cast their vote. If only a few people
vote, they will decide this question for everyone across the province.
UNION MEMBERSHIP
15. What if I vote against the union, can I refuse to join the union?
No. You are not able to opt out of union representation if the union wins -- even if you do not vote for
OPSEU and even if you did not sign a membership card you will be included. That is why this issue and
this vote involves everyone.
16. Do I have to pay dues to join the union?
Yes. Union dues are paid to the union from your earnings. We understand the amount of dues for OPSEU
is generally 1.375% of earnings. For example, if you receive pay of $1,000, then $13.75 will be deducted
for union dues.
17. What happens if there is a strike?
The union has a legal right to strike if negotiations between the college and the union over the terms of
employment are not successful. Persons on strike do not receive wages for the duration of any strike
activity.
One Georgian Drive, Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 | T: 705.728.1968| GeorgianCollege.ca
18. Can OPSEU guarantee me better salary and benefits?
No. Any changes to salary and benefits must be negotiated between the Colleges and OPSEU. The
current economic climate in Ontario is challenging for the Colleges. Nothing the Government has said to
date makes us optimistic that Colleges will obtain improved funding in the near future.
19. Can OPSEU guarantee me employment?
No. An employer always maintains the right to lay-off for economic reasons and to dismiss for cause.
This right exists in the full-time collective agreements with OPSEU.
One Georgian Drive, Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 | T: 705.728.1968| GeorgianCollege.ca